morin



' UNITED srnrns ra rnur neuron,

JOSEPH H. MORIN, ERNEST CHARBONNEAU, AND FRANK CHARRON, F NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

COlVIMUTATQR-BRAGKET.

Specification of Letters'fatent.

Patented Feb, 24, 19 20.

Application filed April 5, 1919. Serial No. 287,822.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, Josnrrr H. Morin, Ennnsr CHARBONNEAU, and FRANK (311 31+ non, citizens of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GoznmutatonBrackets; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a commutator bracket, and aims to provide a novel and improved device, especially useful. on Ford automobiles or the like, for the purpose of supporting the commutator or spark timer at a position higher up or beyond the position usually occupied by the commutator, thereby supporting the commutator or timer at a more convenient place, and also to eliminate difiiculties and trouble attendant to the use of the commutator in its ordinary position.

The commutator or spark timer as now used on Ford and-similar automobiles, is at the forward end of the cam shaft, next to the fan belt and oil pan, and as a result, it is not infrequent for the wires to become saturated with oil, grease and water, re-

sulting in short circuits or other trouble in the ignition. With the use of the present bracket or extension for supporting and operating the commutator, the same is raised to a moreconvenient position, and at the same time, the commutator and wires connected thereto will be high and dry above the oil pan, thereby protecting the wires against short circuits and similar troubles,

A further object of the invention is the provision of a supporting bracket of novel form to take the place of the usual commutator case and having means for supporting said case at a position above or beyond its normal or ordinary position, and operating means within said bracket to connect with the cam shaft and to operate the contact roller or brush of the commutator.

It is also the object of the invention to provide such a device which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be readily applied, and which will be practical and cilioient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the device as applied, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, portions being shown in elevation and the commutator case being turned slightly from the position seen infFig. 1.

In Fig. 2, there is illustrated the cam shaft 1 of a Ford orsimilar automobile, on the forward terminal of which is usually mountedthe contact roller or brush 2 of the commutator, and the case 3 thereof is ordinarily mounted ot'er and around said end of the shaft. In using the present device, however, the case 3 and brush 2 of the commutator are removed, and are supported at a higher level, so as to be raised to a more convenient position, where the wires and other parts ofthe commutator will not be apt to be saturated by oil, grease or water. iihe commutator includes a ring 4 within the rim of the case 3 and having segments 5 providcd with binding posts 6 for the connection of the wires, as usual. The case 3 has an arm 7 for the connection of the pull rod for oscillating or turning said case to change the timing of the sparks.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a bracket-having at its upper end a seat 8 provided with a depression 9 in which the rim of the case 3 is seated, and said seat hasa lower boss 10 screw threaded or otherwise secured on the upper end of a tubular standard 11 of any suitable length, so that the commutator can be supported adjacent to the level of the head of the en-, gine cylinders. The lower end of the standard 11 is screw threaded or otherwise engaged within. an upstanding boss 12 of a gear casing 15 constituting the base of the bracket. This casing 15 replaces the case 3 of the commutator, so as to surround the forward end of the shaft 1, and is provided with a rim 14 to fit the crank casing 17 of the engine. This gear casing 18 also has an and then securing the arm 15 to the crank casing 17 by the bolt 16.

Mounted within the bracket is an operating gearing for rotat' .g the contact brush from the shaft 1, and for this purpose, a shaft 18 extends longitudinally through the standard 11 and through the opening in the center of the seat 8 and also an opening in the top of the casing 15, the lower end of the shaft 18 being seated in a recess 19 provided in the casing 15, to support said shaft. The upper end of the shaft 18 has a reduced portion or stem 20 over which the hub of --the contact brush 2 can be slipped, so that said brush can be secured to said shaft by means of the nut 21. The brush will therefore rotate with the shaft to successively engage the segments 5 in the ordinary manner for controlling the ignition system. A. bevel gear 22- is keyed on the lower end of the shaft 18 and its hub fits within the re cessl9. This gear 22 meshes with a bevel gear 28 keyed on the shaft 1 in the place usually occupied by the commutator brush, and said gear 23 is retained on the shaft 1 by the nut 24 thereon. l.herciore, the bevel gears will transmit motion from the shaft 1 to the shaft 18, so that the commutator is operated in proper timed relation with the engine. The bracket as well as the operating means extend radially from the shaft 1, and as above described, the commutator is disposed above the seat 8 at the upper end of the bracket.

The seat 8 carries an upstanding bolt at one side of the case 3 on which a spacer sleeve 26 is disposed: and said bolt is used for clamping the retaining spring 27 of the case 3, which has its free end bearing against the ape): of the case3 to press the rim thereof: against the seat 8, thus permitting said case to be turned in the usual way for advancing or retarding the brush. By lifting the free end of the spring 27 from the case 3 and turning the spring. to one side, said case can be lifted from the seat 8 for cleaning or examining the commutator, and this can naturally be done more conveniently with the commutator positioned as herein illustrated and described. Furthermore, the wires can be inclosed in a housing at the top of the engine, thereby avoiding the difiiculties frequently resulting from the usual location of the commutator.

l'lavi-ng thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A commutator bracket embodying a tubular member, a seat secured to one end thereof for supporting a commutator, a gear casing secured to the other end of said member and having means for securing it over the end of ashaft, a shaft extending through said tubular member into the casing and to said seat ifor operating the commutator, a bevel gear secured to the second named shaft within said casing, and another bevel gear to mesh with the aforesaid gear and to be secured on the first named shaft, the gear casing having a recess to receive and sup port the shaft and first named gear.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses JGSEPH H. MORIIN. ERNESR CHARBONNEAU.

1S FRANK CHARRO mark Witnesses to mark:

0mm; 1. STURYM, Nae. Snare. 

